Endless track tread



July 11, 1.944. Fd E; BURESS '2,353,124

Y ENPLESS TRACK TREAD Filed March V18, 1942 INVENTOR. P700/L 'Bur7es5 Passed .1m11.194s

l; fum-so@ 'sfrArsfsg PArsNrf ori-Sica t 2,353,124r Q i. .i asnrnss 'rasoir 'maan I v Frank'mEQBni-gess, Ill., assigner toBnr` .l

' :ess-Norton Manufacturing lll., a'corporation of'lllinois Company, Geneva,

Animationv umn 1s, 1942; serial No. sans Y (visos-1o)H This invention relates totimprovements in" tread members' or track unitsfforendless tracks cfatank or like vehicle. f

nie principal object of the invention is to provide an improved article of manufacture,` of fab#- ricated tread members made up of relatively simF l ple. inexpensive partsof relatively light weight and requiring a' minimum of machining, to take the place of certain yiorms of tread members at present employed as standard equipment 4for army tanks, and which'arc madefrom relativelymassive castings or forgings and require several more or less costly manufacture. 'a l Y In a common form of army tank niowin use, the endless tracks or so-calledfcaterpillar" treads on opposite sides of the vehicle eachy consists ofV anendless track orbelt made up of va plurality4 of tread members, generally in the form of 4separate' tread blocks. connected together by hinged machining operations in their links along opposite sides thereof. The track is Y* supported at opposite ends of the vehicle on large f sprocket wheels, and' a series of smaller bogieor idler wheels are carried on the vehicle frame and bear againstthe upper surface of the lower lead or reach ofthe track. vIn a" preferred form, the bogie wheelsare provided with 'arubber `periplrery, and `has engagement with rubber-covered upper surfaces of the tread blocks, while the main body of said blocks and their ground-engaging lower `faces are made of` metal.

In the case oi' Figure 1 is a perspective view cfa completed tread block or unit made inaccordance with my invention.v I

"Figure 2'is a detail section taken online 2`2 'ofFigureL f M I g l Figure 3'is a detail 'section-takenon the ir-` M regularline I-I of Figure 1.`

Figure 4 is a fragmentary topplan viewrofther top vplatein assembled form onthe tubular `pivot bearings, before the rubber facing hasbeen apf plied to'theupper surface of said ltop'r'llate Figure 5 is an Figure 4.

Figure 61s a'bottom view of the bottom or trac-I l tion shoe,jbefore assembly.

Figure 7is an end 'view ofthe `bottom shoe4 shownin Figure 8. y Referring now'to details of the 4embodiment of my invention as illustrated, the tread'` block III.` consistsv essentially of three parts, viz: A bottom traction shoe or plate I I, an upper clamping plate I2, anda pair of tubular bearing sleeves I3, I3.

The bottom 'traction shoe II isin the fol-'mofa generally rectangular plate formed with a cenj trally disposedrridge Il fandiate'rally extending trough-like channels Il, IY thereof, curved in transverse section, torconform with the shape of the tubular sleeves I3,`as clear; j 1 ly shown-in Figures 2 and 7; A plurality of rivet holes Il, lignei-ein three in number, are formed in cylindrically upset bosses I1, I'I in equi-spaced heavier types of tanks, each endless tread memvber may consist of' two rows of such individuall As previously mentioned,

tread units or blocks.

these tread units or blocks havefherewforebeen' Such *pieces made of solid castings for forgings. must be finished with `several machining 'operations, including that of formingjlongitudinal bores at opposite ends thereof to provide suitable pivotal bearings for the pivot pins and their connectinglinks.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an improved structure and arrangement for fabricating the tread units from relatively light, preformed parts, including a pair of tubular sleeve sections which providethe pivotal bearings for the pivot pins, and separate upper and lower clamping plates which are assembled on land secured to said tubular sleeve sections with a minimum amount of machining and labor so as to provide a lighter, more economical, and yet entirely satisfactory vtread block or unit for the intended purpose above described. 1 Y

'I'he invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which 55 relation along the ridge Il,v for insertionof rivets Il, .a Il as will hereinafter more fully' appear.

Transverse ribs I 9, I9 are formed on the under side of the plate bridging the channels I5, I5 between adjacent rivet holes Il, I6. Y A plurality of lugs or cleatsnzllflll of any suitable formand arrangement may be formed onv the bottom of the shoe'I I, preferably along the channels. I5, I5. The" arrangement of cleats shown herein is merely suggestive of numerous tread patterns or designs that may be' employed for varying conditions of use.

The upper or clamping plate I 2, as shown here- 'l in, is also generally rectangular in shape, and is Y preferably of a composite construction, namely,

a metal base 2| and a rubber outer facing 22.-

The latter affords such rubber-to-rubber contact with rubber-rimmed bogie Wheels as is often considered desirablein endless tread devices of this character. The metal base plate 2| is formed with a centrally disposed trough 23, and laterally extending channels 24, 2l along opposite sides thereof, curved in transverse section to conform with the shape of the tubular sleeves I3, as clearend view` of the parts shown in ialong opposite sides of the bottom shoe Il and iorging..fwithout any rubbexmiacing.; f,k

' plate ,2i when the parts -are v.initially engaged.

ly shown in Figures 2 and 5. A series of three described has the advantages of economy in rivet holes 2l are provided along the bottom of manufacturing due to the minimum amount ofl trough 2l to register with holes il in the bottom machining required, while the completed unit is shoe I i. Transverse ribs 2i, 2l bridge the trough considerably lighter in weight than a tread unit between adjacent rivet holes 25, as shown in Fig- 5 of similar size made of one-piece castings or forgures3 and 4. Y ings. Moreover, the individual metal parts may The rubber facing 22 is vulcanized to the back be made oi' different types of steel best suited or plate 2l.r #berths-metal papis ,rp iullmsforihei perticul function! Per the' sembled. aswiijl'pre n tl fpear. u A 'f botto e ,g ,A u i, The tubular *sleeves ill, 'il may be formed of steell such as a manganesel alloy, wliile 'the upper stock steel tubing of suitable thickness and di-i p 1ate 2| may be of a steel more suitable for ameter, cut to length so as to iit with their opstamping or pressing operations. posed upper and lower surfaces partiallyr'enclosed.;^ Although-tlf, have shown and described one DM'- between the opposed pairs of ch nnels bodiment oiwmy invention, it will be not wish tc be limited to n shown and described, but that changes and modifications may be madeawithoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of xnycinvvyention as defined in the appended The inner diameter oi' said p of the proper size to receive the particular i'ormV of pivot structure which is to-gbeeusedfwithffthe: tread units, which structure may, for instance,

consist of the usual form of toi-tional rubber-"coni" claims." nectipmcomprisingafpigotgpiniinot.shownr-hav Iclaimasamy-finvention:= inge rubberusl'eeve-vulanized thereonfendi ini 1s Inaianfendlesstrack; construction agg-treod-'Jf serted under pressure within the bore of each block consisting of a pair offsteel vtube.sections bearing sleeveA 5. 1 spaced in .parallel,relationxtokeach other,.an up?A It will be understood `that the bottomshoeJ-I 1.26 lperplate curved/alongoppositeymarginsto @Dltf may bemadebycastinmorfforgingfswhiledshe tiallyasurroundthe upperff,surfaces.of said tubes upper plate 2i, being somewhat ,lighter1v-'and1tot' andl permanently secured tothe-latteralongtheir substantiallyy uniform thiolmess,,sisv preferably; meetingsurfacespand ashoeffhaving curvedmar formedL by stampingmr; pressingw In; matin-Vv gins to partiallysurroundrand rvengage k{alle lowe stances, however, the upper;stampingT -xzolateqA il 2 vl30 surfaces, ,otasaid-tubes,'i;and,f means rigidly secur may be made: offraone-piecefmetalcasting orrfw; ing.'.saidfullpenplate-andhoetogether-between-- f y ,zf Said-,tubeS-i'f'." Y" 1 ""fi z "5; f

The'method of assembly of the parts abovede-l 2.1In anifiendless: .151',

.k cpnstruction s. tread scribed may now bezexplained asfiolltws:i `The block consisting of a pair of steel tube sections tubular kSleeves are rst permapentlrsecuredfin; 3.5 :spaced inner-alle! relation teach-comprese the..curvedsmarinliChannels@.Mkof upper uppeln-fplete.:ici;-substentiellsp` niform-.thicknes plate 2| by a, suitable metallic mision,-operation., curved; along oppsffml', such as ,py hremgor.; we1dins.-.a1ons smeffull. roupdftnefppper surfaces:Qtsaldatubesramiaper length and-widih-,Oifthein ,pectivemeetinc-sur-s maneptlasecured,toftheflst relpnsatheit mee r faces. asmdieted'Ybycrpssemlinesiinlisure154%inspsurfaces ap/.flee-sh'f-havips curved energies In practice., 1I,,und.thatbrazinszfissatisiactory.A to Lpartiallysilrroiiildf the fsurfesslffal. for this Duw, jlilebottoxn shoe il i then.; tubes and meanssrigidl clmppdipthe partiel. esserne meen. 0,: the? rivets, ll.-.,.1,- ,h w11.11,1Ji1s11 A i pM f i'e'rred arrangement, the ybosses,gi-1L vI Ii-are I formed so that there-.iss S11 llt-clearance pani-V liriche@ tweenf-their-11pper"@fietsende-the bottpm fa eledelpnafppppite .ndffthe eppur-surfaces.. Insel ured 'ftheletrfalons as indicatedin dotted linesin glifigure l2.

riveting, pressure; is -appliedalong the center A' Ashfoe"delaying..cuir-ved of thegplatell so. as-todraw thetwcl partst and ,engagesthe gether` and holdl'therngunder slight'clamping ten,-y sion againstlthe sleeves` I), Il after the riveting g is completed. `4 .'iiiisl insures a; tight-,fitting,.en-l close gagement between the sleeves landthe.lowerjshoe 1 $5 .;per.`p Il at all times, andstrengthensthe blocLas- C sembly against longitudinal pull/ing stresses. After the metal partey rrezsecured together, `the-l t rubber facing 21 may,be;fap iedtothe. pper Natales-shove 

